Reasons for Teeth Removal:
- Extensive damage: Through fractures, cracks or decay. If a severely damaged or decayed tooth can't be saved and is not extracted, it can result in infections/abscesses to form and spread causing localized swelling and to other parts of the body due to infection spread.
- Periodontal Disease: Due to poor dental hygiene and irregular maintenance, plaque and calculus will form and cause inflammation of the gums which may then lead to periodontal disease. If not treated and managed promptly, this can cause damage to the underlying bone and gum support surrounding the tooth. The infection may cause the tooth to become loose in its socket and despite treatment, saving the tooth may not be possible due to the extent of bone and tissue lost.
- Aesthetic/Functional purposes: Some teeth are removed as part of orthodontic treatment to create space for other teeth to move into a better position. Whereas some are removed as part of a treatment plan in order to improve the appearance of the teeth and their function. This may include teeth that have no opposing partner to occlude, bite, and grind against in which case removal of the tooth may be considered. If teeth do not have an opposing partner, it can result in over-eruption of the tooth which can result in irritation, increased sensitivity and trauma to the opposing tissues as the tooth erupts further to fill the space.
- Trauma: Teeth that have been traumatized often have complications that should be managed appropriately. For teeth with extensive trauma that are not able to be saved, it is best to plan for their removal and replacement.
- Wisdom teeth: The removal of wisdom teeth is usually due to persistent pain, associated decay, pathology/infection, damage to adjacent tissues, teeth or structures, orthodontic purposes or due to lack of space within the jaw to fit them or maintain them.